THE EDITOR, Sir:
OUR YOUNG, agile and reportedly bright Minister of Industry, Commerce and Technology, the Honourable Mr. P. Paulwell, has come under 'heavy flak' for his 'honest mistake' involving over $177-million re the NetServ debacle.
Indeed, several persons and organisations are calling on the PM to fire him if he does not resign gracefully.
But if all the reports are correct in their entirety, why blame this 'youth' alone for the faux pas? Indeed with so much money at stake and considering our chronic cash flow problem, shouldn't Cabinet have monitored the proceedings rigorously ex abundanti cautela?
Alas Mr. Editor, where does this august body stand in the prima facie abortive exercise? Of course the Prime Minister's 'confidence expression' on Hotline RJR, was ill-timed and could have awaited receipt of the reports from the Auditor-General and Mr. J. Wesley Lee (receiver) in order to avoid any impression whatsoever that a 'psychological shackle' is being imposed on these respected investigators.
On a lighter note, there is a story, apocryphal or otherwise, about a certain Jamaican Minister of Government (now deceased) who having made a mistake, told his Chief Minister that 'mistake did mek fe mek or dem woulden put rubbah pan pencil'. Nuff said.
I am, etc.,
V.E. 'RUKSHUS' MUIR
